The Japanese animator Osamu Tezuka, (
Astroboy, Kimba the White Lion) often considered the grand daddy of anime drew on inspiration from Disney and Fleischer.
For manga and anime fans, Tezuka's biggest contribution came in the design of his characters. The artist needed a vast emotional template to tell his often complex stories. Seeking inspiration, he returned to the pre-war Disney cartoons that he loved as a child. Just like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Tezuka's animal and humans characters sported round heads with huge, expressive eyes. Although these features appeared simple and cartoonish, they actually allowed a character to express a wide range of emotions, from adulation to seething hatred.
His style had a huge influence on subsequent Japanese artists, so maybe America as an cultural influence is to blame.
I blame Commodore Perry myself.
